Treatment of seborrhoea/cutaneous disorders with octoxyglycerol

ABSTRACT

The subject-matter of the present invention is the use of octoxyglycerol in a cosmetic or dermatological composition for treating seborrhoea and/or cutaneous disorders which are associated with it, in particular acne and/or greasy skin with a tendency towards acne and/or hyperseborrhoea.

This is 371 of PCT/FR97/02039 filed Nov. 13, 1997.

The subject-matter of the present invention is the use of octoxyglycerolin a cosmetic or dermatological composition for treating seborrhoea andcutaneous disorders which are associated with it, in particular acneand/or hyperseborrhoea.

The secretion of sebum is a normal phenomenon and useful to the skin andthe hair. However, the hypersecretion of sebum, known as seborrhoea, isannoying and sometimes results in a cutaneous pathology, in particular agreasy skin and even one suffering from acne, and a seborrhoeiccondition of the scalp. The consequences of the sebaceous hypersecretionand the disturbance of the keratinization of the pilo-sebaceous follicleis that the pilo-sebaceous follicle becomes blocked and that retentionallesions or comedones are formed.

These pathologies and in particular acne and/or hyperseborrhoea relatein particular to the colonization of the skin or hair follicle bymicroorganisms of the genus Propionibacterium, such as Propionibacteriumacnes, Propionibacterium granulosum or Propionibacterium avidum.

These undesirable microorganisms metabolize sebum triglycerides, withthe release of the irritant fatty acids responsible for the inflammationwhich appears during these pathologies.

Use is commonly made, in combating these pathogenic agents, of activeagents such as triclosan, hexamidine, hexetidine and benzalkoniumchloride. However, the use of these active agents is not without sideeffects. Thus, triclosan exhibits a not insignificant toxicity, even bythe topical route. In addition, it has proved to be insufficientlyeffective, in particular in certain vehicles where its activity isinhibited by the surfactants. Hexamidine and hexetidine, in the form ofsalts, are sensitizing substances capable of causing allergies.Furthermore, benzalkonium chloride can prove to be irritating at thenormal doses of use. Moreover it destabilizes compositions containinganionic surfactants.

It is thus found that the need remains for topical active agents whichhave an effect on the pathologies related to microorganisms of the genusPropionibacterium and which have an action at least as effective as thecompounds of the prior art, while not exhibiting the disadvantages ofthe known compounds.

The subject-matter of the present invention is precisely the use ofspecific compounds which make it possible to obtain this effect.

The Applicant Company has discovered that octoxyglycerol exhibited highactivity with respect to Propionibacterium acnes and Propionibacteriumgranulosum and could thus be used in a cosmetic or dermatologicalcomposition as anti-seborrhoeic and anti-acne active agent.

The document DE-A-4,140,474 certainly describes the use of monoalkylethers of glycerol in compositions for cleansing and caring for theskin. However, these compounds are used as supergreasing additives whichprevent the drying of the skin in alcohol-based antiseptic anddisinfectant compositions, the monoalkyl ethers of glycerol reinforcingthe antiseptic effect of the alcohol while preventing the drying of theskin. The use of monoalkyl ethers of glycerol, particularly ofoctoxyglycerol, to act against pathologies related to Propionibacteriumacnes and Propionibacterium granulosum, and in particular to treatseborrhoea and acne, has never been described.

The document WO 93/25208 describes the use of monoalkyl ethers ofglycerol in cytocidal, antibacterial and spermicidal compositions. Thisdocument does not specifically describe the activity of the monoalkylethers with respect to microorganisms of the genus Propionibacterium andstill less pathologies related to Propionibacterium acnes andPropionibacterium granulosum and in particular seborrhoea and acne.Moreover, octoxyglycerol is not cited in this document.

The subject-matter of the present invention is thus the use ofoctoxyglycerol in a cosmetic composition for treating seborrhoea of theskin and/or of the scalp and/or cutaneous disorders associated withseborrhoea.

Another subject-matter of the present invention is the use ofoctoxyglycerol in the manufacture of a medicament intended to treatseborrhoea of the skin and/or of the scalp and/or cutaneous disordersassociated with seborrhoea.

The cutaneous disorders associated with seborrhoea can in particular beacne or greasy skin with a tendency towards acne and/or hyperseborrhoea.

A further subject-matter of the present invention is consequently theuse of octoxyglycerol in a cosmetic composition for treating acne and/orgreasy skin with a tendency towards acne and/or hyperseborrhoea.

A further subject-matter of the present invention is the use ofoctoxyglycerol in the manufacture of a medicament intended to treat acneand/or greasy skin with a tendency towards acne and/or hyperseborrhoea.

A further subject-matter of the present invention is the use ofoctoxyglycerol in a cosmetic composition for acting againstmicroorganisms of the genus Propionibacterium.

A further subject-matter of the present invention is the use ofoctoxyglycerol in the manufacture of a medicament intended to actagainst microorganisms of the genus Propionibacterium.

Another subject-matter of the present invention is a process for thecosmetic treatment of seborrhoea and/or of disorders associated withseborrhoea which consists in applying a composition containing at leastoctoxyglycerol on the skin and/or the scalp exhibiting disorders ofseborrhoea.

Another subject-matter of the present invention is a process for thecosmetic treatment of acne, which consists in applying, on skinsuffering from acne, a composition containing at least octoxyglycerol.

A final subject-matter of the invention is an anti-acne cosmetic and/ordermatological composition, characterized in that it comprises, in acosmetically and/or dermatologically acceptable medium, at least aneffective amount of octoxyglycerol as anti-acne active agent.

Octoxyglycerol (2-ethylhexyl 1-glyceryl ether) corresponds to thefollowing formula (I):

    R--O--CH.sub.2 --CHOH--CH.sub.2 OH                         (I)

in which R represents a 2-ethylhexyl radical.

Octoxyglycerol is used, according to the present invention, in an amountpreferably ranging from 0.05 to 10%, better still from 0.1 to 5% and yetbetter still from 0.1 to 2.5% of the total weight of the composition.

The compositions according to the invention comprise a cosmeticallyand/or dermatologically acceptable medium, that is to say compatiblewith the skin, the mucous membranes, the hair and the scalp. They can beprovided in all the pharmaceutical dosage forms appropriate for topicalapplication, in particular in the form of aqueous, aqueous/alcoholic oroily solutions, of aqueous, aqueous/alcoholic or oily gels, of solid orpasty anhydrous products, of emulsions obtained by dispersion of a fattyphase in an aqueous phase (O/W) or vice versa (W/O), of suspensions, ofmicroemulsions, of microcapsules, of microparticles or of vesiculardispersions of ionic type (liposomes) and/or non-ionic type. Thesecompositions are prepared according to the usual methods in the fieldsunder consideration.

The compositions according to the invention can also be used in the formof foams or in the form of aerosol compositions also comprising apressurized propellent.

The amounts of the various constituents of the compositions according tothe invention are those conventionally used in the fields underconsideration.

These compositions constitute in particular skin products, such ascleansing or treatment gels or creams, purifying lotions or milks,concealing sticks, anti-seborrhoeic shampoos or hair lotions, orcompositions for combating hair loss for the scalp.

The compositions of the invention can comprise the adjuvantsconventionally employed in the fields under consideration, such as fattysubstances, organic solvents, solubilizing agents, thickening andgelling agents, softeners, antioxidants, opacifying agents, stabilizingagents, foaming agents, fragrances, ionic or non-ionic emulsifiers,fillers, sequestering and chelating agents, preservatives, screeningagents, essential oils, dyes, pigments, hydrophilic or lipophilic activeagents, lipid vesicles or any other ingredient commonly used incosmetics. These adjuvants are introduced in the amounts generally usedin the cosmetic or dermatological field and, for example, from 0 to 20%of the total weight of the composition.

When the composition of the invention is an emulsion, the proportion ofthe fatty phase can range from 5 to 80% and preferably from 5 to 50% ofthe total weight of the composition. The oils, the emulsifiers and thecoemulsifiers used in the composition in the emulsion form are chosenfrom those conventionally used in the cosmetic or dermatological field.The emulsifier and optionally the coemulsifier are present in thecomposition in a proportion ranging from 0.3 to 30% by weight andpreferably from 0.5 to 20% by weight with respect to the total weight ofthe composition. The emulsion can additionally contain lipid vesicles.

Mention may be made, as oils which can be used in the invention, ofmineral oils (isoparaffin), oils of vegetable origin (apricot kerneloil), oils of animal origin, synthetic oils, silicone oils(cyclopentadimethylsiloxane) and fluorinated oils. Use can also be made,as fatty substances, of fatty alcohols, fatty acids (stearic acid) orwaxes (carnauba wax, ozocerite).

Mention may be made, as emulsifiers which can be used in the invention,of, for example, ethylene glycol monostearate, sorbitan tristearate, theglycol palmitate-stearate/polyethylene glycol (6 EO)stearate/polyethylene glycol (32 EO) stearate mixture sold under thename "Tefose 63" by the company Gattefosse, and hydrogenated lecithin.

Mention may be made, as gelling or thickening agents, of natural gums(xanthan gum), polysaccharides (hydroxypropylmethylcellulose orcarboxymethylcellulose), carboxyvinyl polymers (carbomer), acryliccopolymers, polyacrylamides and in particular the mixture ofpolyacrylamide, C₁₃ -C₁₄ isoparaffin and Laureth-7 sold under the nameof Sepigel 305 by the company Seppic, or oxyethylenated sugarderivatives, such as oxyethylenated methylglucose.

Mention may be made, as foaming agents, of, for example, disodiumN-carboxyethoxyethyl-N-(cocoylamidoethyl)aminoacetate, sodium laurylether sulphate, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, triethanolamine laurylsulphate and the mixture of sodium cocoyl isethionate and of coconutfatty acids.

Mention may in particular be made, as fillers, of acrylic copolymers,such as the ethylene glycol dimethacrylate/lauryl methacrylate copolymersold by the company Dow Corning under the name of Polytrap.

Mention may in particular be made, as hydrophilic or lipophilic activeagents, of agents capable of complementing the effect of the alkyl etherof glycerol in the treatment of seborrhoea and of associated dermatosesand in particular of acne. It can relate, for example, toanti-inflammatory agents, such as benzoyl peroxide, to antibiotics, toantiseptic agents, such as octopirox, to keratolytic agents, such asα-hydroxyacids or β-hydroxyacids in the free, etherified or esterifiedform, retinoic acid and its derivatives or retinol and its derivatives,such as retinol palmitate, acetate or propionate, or to anti-seborrhoeicagents, such as salts of di- or trivalent metals, such as salts ofalkaline earth metals and lanthanides, and more particularly strontiumsalts and neodymium salts. According to a preferred embodiment of theinvention, this agent is a keratolytic agent and in particular aα-hydroxyacid or a β-hydroxyacid.

The amount of agent can range, for example, from 0 to 20% and preferablyfrom 0.05 to 5% of the total weight of the composition.

Mention may in particular be made, as α-hydroxyacids, of glycolic,lactic, malic, tartaric, citric and mandelic acids. Mention may be made,as β-hydroxyacids, of salicylic acid and its derivatives or2-hydroxyalkanoic acids and their derivatives, such as2-hydroxy-3-methylbenzoic acid and 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid.

Furthermore, mention may also be made, as hydrophilic active agents, of,for example, proteins or protein hydrolysates, amino acids, polyols(glycerol or propylene glycol), urea, allantoin, sugars and sugarderivatives, vitamins, starch, or bacterial or plant extracts.

When skin suffering from cutaneous disorders related to acne orseborrhoea has to be exposed to the sun, the composition comprising thealkyl ether appropriately comprises, in addition, at least one screeningagent, so as to retain the effectiveness of the active agent accordingto the invention while protecting the skin from the harmful effects ofsolar radiation. Mention may be made, as screening agents, of organicscreening agents or pigments which may or may not be in the form ofnanoparticles (nanopigments). Examples of organic screening agents aresulphone or sulphonate derivatives of benzophenone, sulphonic orsulphonate derivatives of benzylidenecamphor, and acrylates, such asoctocrylene. The amount of screening agent depends on the solarprotection desired. It can range, for example, from 0 to 10% andpreferably from 0.1 to 5% of the total weight of the composition.

The following examples illustrate the invention without limiting in anyway the scope thereof. The percentages are given by weight.

EXAMPLE 1 Foaming gel for greasy seborrhoeic skin

    ______________________________________                                        Copolymer of oxyethylenated (60 EO)                                                                    0.9%                                                 hydrogenated tallow alcohol/myristyl                                          glycol (solubilizing agent) (Elfacos GT                                       282 S sold by the company Akzo)                                               Octoxyglycerol           0.1%                                                 Glycerol                 3%                                                   Glycolic acid            1%                                                   38% Disodium N-carboxyethoxyethyl-                                                                     5%                                                   N-(cocoylamidoethyl) aminoacetate in                                          water                                                                         Sodium lauryl ether sulphate                                                                           14.3%                                                Diethanolamide of coconut fatty acids                                                                  0.7%                                                 (softening agent)                                                             Demineralized water q.s. for                                                                           100%                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Procedure:

The Elfacos GT 282S is dispersed in demineralized water at 80° C. andthen the dispersion is cooled to 50° C. Furthermore, the foaming agents,the softening agent and the glycerol are dispersed at 50° C. indemineralized water with slow stirring and then this preparation isgently poured, with slow stirring, into the dispersion of Elfacos GT282S. The octoxyglycerol is subsequently added thereto at 40° C.

The gel obtained is suitable for the treatment of seborrhoeicdermatitis, with application twice daily on the face.

EXAMPLE 2 Foaming cleansing cream for skin suffering from acne

    ______________________________________                                        Ethylene glycol monostearate                                                                           2%                                                   Octoxyglycerol           2.5%                                                 Hydrated magnesium aluminium silicate                                                                  1.7%                                                 (stabilizing agent)                                                           Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose                                                                           0.8%                                                 Mixture of sodium cocoyl isethionate and                                                               15%                                                  of coconut fatty acids (Elfan AT 84 G                                         sold by the company Akzo)                                                     Stearic acid             1.25%                                                30% Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate in water                                                                10%                                                  Fragrance                0.3%                                                 Demineralized water q.s. for                                                                           100%                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Procedure:

The Elfan AT 84 G is dispersed in demineralized water at 80° C. Aftercomplete dissoluton, the hydrated magnesium aluminium silicate salt isadded. The mixture is cooled to 60° C. and then the sodium lauroylsarcosinate and the hydroxypropylmethylcellulose gel are added. Thestearic acid and the ethylene glycol monostearate, which have beenpreheated on a water bath, are subsequently added. The octoxyglyceroland the fragrance are added to this mixture.

The cream obtained is suitable for the treatment of skin suffering fromacne, by application twice daily on the face.

EXAMPLE 3 Treatment cream for acne

    ______________________________________                                        Sorbitan tristearate     1%                                                   Octoxyglycerol           0.5%                                                 Carbomer                 0.4%                                                 Xanthan gum              0.5%                                                 Polytrap (Dow Corning)   1%                                                   Cyclopentadimethylsiloxane (volatile oil)                                                              6%                                                   Glycerol                 3%                                                   Tefose 63 (Gattefosse) (emulsifier)                                                                    4%                                                   Demineraiized water q.s. for                                                                           100%                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Procedure:

The mixture A containing the sorbitan tristearate, the emulsifier andthe cyclopentadimethylsiloxane is prepared at 60° C. Furthermore, themixture B is prepared by swelling, in demineralized water at 70° C., themixture of glycerol and of carbomer, followed by the xanthan gum. Theemulsion is prepared at 65° C. by pouring the mixture A into the mixtureB with stirring. The combined mixture is allowed to cool to 50° C. andthe Polytrap is added, followed by the octoxyglycerol.

The cream obtained is suitable for the treatment of the skin, byapplication once daily on the face and the back of the body.

EXAMPLE 4 Treatment gel for seborrhoeic skin

    ______________________________________                                        Octoxyglycerol            5%                                                  Xanthan gum               1%                                                  Glycerol                  2%                                                  Fragrance                 0.2%                                                Ethyl alcohol (solvent)   30%                                                 Oxyethylenated (26 EO)-oxypropylenated                                                                  1%                                                  (26 PO) butyl alcohol/oxyethylenated (40                                      EO) hydrogenated castor oil mixture in                                        water (Solubilisant LRI sold by the                                           compant Wacker) (co-solvent)                                                  Demineralized water q.s. for                                                                            100%                                                ______________________________________                                    

Procedure:

The xanthan gum is swollen in demineralized water with the glycerol at70° C. After cooling to 30° C., the glycolic acid, the ethyl alcohol,the co-solvent with the octoxyglycerol and the fragrance are added.

The gel obtained is suitable for the treatment of seborrhoeic skin, withapplication once to twice daily on the face.

EXAMPLE 5 Coloured treatment cream for skin suffering from acne,comprising liposomes

    ______________________________________                                        Oxyethylenated (5 EO) soybean sterols                                                                  1.6%                                                 Hydrogenated lecithin    2.4%                                                 Octoxyglycerol           2%                                                   Apricot kernel oil       6%                                                   Yellow iron oxide (pigments)                                                                           0.45%                                                Brown iron oxides (pigments)                                                                           0.4%                                                 Black iron oxide (pigments)                                                                            0.07%                                                Titanium oxide (pigments)                                                                              5%                                                   Polytrap (Dow Corning)   1%                                                   Polyacrylamide/C.sub.13 -C.sub.14 isoparaffin/                                                         4%                                                   Laureth-7 (Sepigel 305)                                                       Cyclopentadimethylsiloxane (volatile oil)                                                              6%                                                   Glycerol                 6%                                                   Propylene glycol         6%                                                   Demineralized water q.s. for                                                                           100%                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Procedure:

To prepare the liposomes, the mixture of oxyethylenated (5 EO) soybeansterols and of hydrogenated lecithin is hydrated in demineralized waterat 80° C. for 2 hours and this preparation is passed twice through ahigh-pressure homogenizer. After having cooled the liposome preparationto 35° C., the apricot kernel oil and the cyclopentadimethylsiloxane areadded thereto. The mixture is passed through the high-pressurehomogenizer and cooled to 30° C. Furthermore, a dispersion of thefillers in the propylene glycol and the glycerol is prepared. Thisdispersion is dispersed in the mixture obtained above. The Sepigel 305and the octoxyglycerol are subsequently added.

The cream obtained is beige in colour and it is suitable for thetreatment of the skin, by application twice daily on the face.

EXAMPLE 6 Concealing stick for greasy skin

    ______________________________________                                        Octoxyglycerol            1%                                                  Carnauba wax              8%                                                  Ozocerite                 6%                                                  Yellow iron oxide (pigments)                                                                            2.5%                                                Brown iron oxides (pigments)                                                                            1%                                                  Black iron oxide (pigments)                                                                             0.5%                                                Titanium oxide (pigments) 20%                                                 Polydimethylsiloxane/hydrated silica                                                                    0.1%                                                (mould-release agent)                                                         Isoparaffin q.s. for      100%                                                ______________________________________                                    

Procedure:

The oxides and the mould-release agent are dispersed in the mixture ofwaxes and of oil for 2 hours at 100° C. The octoxyglycerol is addedthereto immediately before casting.

The stick obtained can be applied on the face several times daily.

EXAMPLE 7 Purifying lotion for skin suffering from acne

    ______________________________________                                        Octoxyglycerol            2%                                                  Glycerol                  2%                                                  Ethyl alcohol (solvent)   30%                                                 Oxyethylenated (26 EO)-oxypropylenated                                                                  1%                                                  (26 PO) butyl alcohol/oxyethylenated                                          (40 EO) hydrogenated castor oil in water                                      (Solubilisant LRI sold by the company                                         Wacker) (co-solvent)                                                          Demineralized water q.s. for                                                                            100%                                                ______________________________________                                    

Procedure:

The glycerol, the ethyl alcohol, the cosolvent and the octoxyglycerolare mixed in the demineralized water.

The lotion obtained is suitable for cleansing the skin, by applicationtwice daily on the face.

EXAMPLE 8 Anti-seborrhoeic shampoo

    ______________________________________                                        Octoxyglycerol            2%                                                  40% Triethanolamine lauryl sulphate in                                                                  37%                                                 water                                                                         Diethanolamide of coconut fatty acids                                                                   2%                                                  (hair conditioning agent)                                                     Carboxymethylcellulose    0.5%                                                Oxyethylenated methylglucose                                                                            2.5%                                                Demineralized water q.s. for                                                                            100%                                                ______________________________________                                    

Procedure:

The carboxymethylcellulose is dispersed in the demineralized water, andthe conditioning agent, the triethanolamine lauryl sulphate and theoxyethylenated methylglucose are added. After having cooled to 40° C.,the octoxyglycerol is added.

The shampoo obtained is suitable for washing the hair and makes possiblea marked improvement in the condition of the scalp.

Test:

The test described hereinbelow demonstrates the activity ofoctoxyglycerol with respect to Propionibacterium acnes andPropionibacterium granulosum.

The stages in carrying out this test are as follows:

1) Culturing the microorganism: Propionibacterium acnes andPropionibacterium granulosum are cultured on sloping tryptic soy brothagar.

2) Preparation of inoculum: 48 hours before the beginning of the test,the strain is subcultured and incubation is allowed to take place for 48hours at 35° C. under anaerobiosis conditions. The suspension obtainedassays at 10⁸ microorganisms/ml.

3) Preparation of the sample: 32 g of a tryptic soy broth are depositedin a glass bottle, known as a pill bottle, and incubation is allowed totake place at 35° C. for 24 hours. 4 g of the test composition are thenadded and homogenization is carried out. In parallel, a control isprepared in order to confirm that the microorganisms are underfavourable growth conditions throughout the duration of the test.

4) Inoculation: 4 ml of inoculum are introduced into the pill bottle andthe pill bottle is placed in the incubator.

5) Removal and counting: after each contact time (2, 4, 6 and 24 hours),the contents of the pill bottle are homogenized and 1 ml is removedtherefrom. After having determined the appropriate dilution in order tobe able to carry out the counting, this dilution is spread at thesurface of agar-comprising Petri dishes (Eugon LT100 medium) and thenthe Petri dishes are allowed to incubate for 7 days in an oven at 35° C.under anaerobiosis conditions.

The colonies are then counted on the dishes containing more than 20 andless than 200 colonies.

The compositions tested are as follows:

    ______________________________________                                                    Preparation A                                                                             Preparation B                                         ______________________________________                                        Sterile       57.99 g       59.99 g                                           distilled water                                                               Propylene glycol                                                                            20 g          20 g                                              Ethyl alcohol 20 g          20 g                                              Lactic acid    0.01 g        0.01                                             Octoxyglycerol                                                                               2 g          --                                                ______________________________________                                    

The results obtained are shown in the following table. They areexpressed as number of microorganisms per gram of preparation:

    ______________________________________                                                            Propionibacterium                                         Propionibacterium acnes                                                                           granulosum                                                        Preparation                                                                             Preparation                                                                             Preparation                                                                           Preparation                               Contact time                                                                          A         B         A       B                                         ______________________________________                                        0       3.4 × 10.sup.7                                                                    3.4 × 10.sup.7                                                                    3.6 × 10.sup.7                                                                  3.6 × 10.sup.7                      2       1.7 × 10.sup.4                                                                    6.8 × 10.sup.7                                                                    7.5 × 10.sup.3                                                                  4.5 × 10.sup.7                      4       5.2 × 10.sup.9                                                                    7.9 × 10.sup.7                                                                    <200*   4.6 × 10.sup.7                      6       5.2 × 10.sup.3                                                                    9.4 × 10.sup.7                                                                    <200*   4.3 × 10.sup.7                      24      <200*     1.9 × 10.sup.8                                                                    <200*   3.7 × 10.sup.8                      ______________________________________                                         *Sensitivity threshold of the method                                     

Decontamination is found, from 2 hours of contact, to be greater withPreparation A according to the invention. The number of microorganismsis 1000 times less for Propionibacterium acnes and 10,000 times less forPropionibacterium granulosum than the inoculation level (T0), whereas,for Preparation B, it is unchanged.

This result is confirmed and accentuated at 24 hours of contact, sincethe number of revivable microorganisms is below the detection thresholdof the method for Preparation A, whereas, in the case of Preparation B,it is approximately ten times greater than the inoculation level (T0).

We claim:
 1. A method for treating seborrhoea of thc skin and/or of thescalp and/or cutaneous disorders associated with seborrhoea comprisingapplying to the affected area of a subject in need of said treatment acosmetic composition comprising an effective amount of octoxyglycerol ina cosmetically acceptable medium therefor.
 2. A method of treatingseborrhoea of the skin and/or of the scalp and/or cutaneous disordersassociated with seborrhoea comprising applying to the affected area of asubject in need of said treatment a medicament comprising an effectiveamount of octoxyglycerol in a pharmaceutically acceptable medium.
 3. Amethod for treating acne and/or greasy skin which is associated withacne and/or hyperseborrhoea comprising applying to the affected area ofa subject in need of said treatment a cosmetic composition comprising aneffective amount of octoxyglycerol in a cosmetically acceptable medium.4. A method for treating acne and/or greasy skin associated with acneand/or hyperseborrhoea comprising applying to the affected area of asubject in need of said treatment a medicament comprising an effectiveamount of octoxyglycerol in a pharmaceutically acceptable medium.
 5. Amethod for treating a microbial infection associated with microbia ofthe genus Propionibacterium comprising applying to the infected area ofa subject in need of said treatment an effective amount of a medicamentcomprising a microbial inhibitory effective amount of octoxyglycerol ina pharmaceutically acceptable medium.
 6. The method of claim 1, whereinthe amount of octoxyglycerol in the cosmetic composition ranges from0.05 to 10% relative to the total weight of the composition.
 7. Themethod of claim 2, wherein the amount of octoxyglycerol in saidmedicament ranges from 0.05 to 10% relative to the total weight of themedicament composition.
 8. The method of claim 3, wherein the amount ofoctoxyglycerol in said cosmetic composition ranges from 0.05 to 10%relative to the total weight of the composition.
 9. The method of claim4, wherein the amount of octoxyglycerol in said medicament ranges from0.05 to 10% relative to the total weight of the medicament composition.10. The method of claim 5, wherein the amount of octoxyglycerol in saidmedicament composition ranges from 0.05 to 10% relative to the totalweight of the composition.
 11. The method of claim 6, wherein the amountof octoxyglycerol ranges from 0.1 to 2.5% relative to the weight of thecomposition.
 12. The method of claim 7, wherein the amount ofoctoxyglycerol ranges from 0.1 to 2.5% relative to the weight of thecomposition.
 13. The method of claim 8, wherein the amount ofoctoxyglycerol ranges from 0.1 to 2.5% relative to the weight of thecomposition.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein the amount ofoctoxyglycerol ranges from 0.1 to 2.5% relative to the weight of thecomposition.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the amount ofoctoxyglycerol ranges from 0.1 to 2.5% relative to the weight of thecomposition.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein said composition is in aform selected from the group consisting of aqueous, oil, oraqueous/alcoholic solutions, emulsions, microemulsions, aqueous, oily oranhydrous gels, serums, dispersion of vesicles, and pasty or solidanhydrous products.
 17. The method of claim 2, wherein said compositionis in a form selected from the group consisting of aqueous, oil, oraqueous/alcoholic solutions, emulsions, microemulsions, aqueous, oily oranhydrous gels, serums, dispersion of vesicles, and pasty or solidanhydrous products.
 18. The method of claim 3, wherein said compositionis in a form selected from the group consisting of aqueous, oil, oraqueous/alcoholic solutions, emulsions, microemulsions, aqueous, oily oranhydrous gels, serums, dispersion of vesicles, and pasty or solidanhydrous products.
 19. The method of claim 4, wherein said compositionis in a form selected from the group consisting of aqueous, oil, oraqueous/alcoholic solutions, emulsions, microemulsions, aqueous, oily oranhydrous gels, serums, dispersion of vesicles, and pasty or solidanhydrous products.
 20. The method of claim 5, wherein said compositionis in a form selected from the group consisting of aqueous, oil, oraqueous/alcoholic solutions, emulsions, microemulsions, aqueous, oily oranhydrous gels, serums, dispersion of vesicles, and pasty or solidanhydrous products.
 21. The method of claim 1, wherein said compositionis in a form selected from the group consisting of a cream, lotion, gel,and stick.
 22. The method of claim 2, wherein said composition is in aform selected from the group consisting of a cream, lotion, gel, andstick.
 23. The method of claim 3, wherein said composition is in a formselected from the group consisting of a cream, lotion, gel, and stick.24. The method of claim 4, wherein said composition is in a formselected from the group consisting of a cream, lotion, gel, and stick.25. The method of claim 5, wherein said composition is in a formselected from the group consisting of a cream, lotion, gel, and stick.26. The method of claim 1, wherein said composition comprises at leastone adjuvant selected from the group consisting of fatty substances,organic solvents, solubilizing agents, gelling agents, foaming agents,emulsifiers, fillers, screening agents, pigments, hydrophilic orlipophilic active agents, and lipid vesicles.
 27. The method of claim 2,wherein said composition comprises at least one adjuvant selected fromthe group consisting of fatty substances, organic solvents, solubilizingagents, gelling agents, foaming agents, emulsifiers, fillers, screeningagents, pigments, hydrophilic or lipophilic active agents, and lipidvesicles.
 28. The method of claim 3, wherein said composition comprisesat least one adjuvant selected from the group consisting of fattysubstances, organic solvents, solubilizing agents, gelling agents,foaming agents, emulsifiers, fillers, screening agents, pigments,hydrophilic or lipophilic active agents, and lipid vesicles.
 29. Themethod of claim 4, wherein said composition comprises at least oneadjuvant selected from the group consisting of fatty substances, organicsolvents, solubilizing agents, gelling agents, foaming agents,emulsifiers, fillers, screening agents, pigments, hydrophilic orlipophilic active agents, and lipid vesicles.
 30. The method of claim 5,wherein said composition comprises at least one adjuvant selected fromthe group consisting of fatty substances, organic solvents, solubilizingagents, gelling agents, foaming agents, emulsifiers, fillers, screeningagents, pigments, hydrophilic or lipophilic active agents, and lipidvesicles.
 31. The method of claim 1, wherein said composition furthercomprises at least one agent selected from the group consisting ofα-hydroxyacids, β-hydroxyacids, and salts of di- or trivalent metals.32. The method of claim 2, wherein said composition further comprises atleast one agent selected from the group consisting of α-hydroxyacids,β-hydroxyacids, and salts of di- or trivalent metals.
 33. The method ofclaim 3, wherein said composition further comprises at least one agentselected from the group consisting of α-hydroxyacids, β-hydroxyacids,and salts of di- or trivalent metals.
 34. The method of claim 4, whereinsaid composition further comprises at least one agent selected from thegroup consisting of α-hydroxyacids, β-hydroxyacids, and salts of di- ortrivalent metals.
 35. The method of claim 5, wherein said compositionfurther comprises at least one agent selected from the group consistingof α-hydroxyacids, β-hydroxyacids, and salts of di- or trivalent metals.36. The method of claim 1, wherein said cosmetic composition istopically applied to the skin and/or scalp of a subject exhibiting aseborrhoea disorder.
 37. The method of claim 2, wherein said cosmeticcomposition is topically applied to the skin and/or scalp of a subjectexhibiting a seborrhoea disorder.
 38. The method of claim 3, whereinsaid cosmetic composition is topically applied to the skin of a subjectcomprising acne and/or greasy skin with is associated with acne and/orhyperseborrhoea.
 39. The method of claim 4, wherein said medicament istopically applied to the skin of a subject comprising acne and/or greasyskin associated with acne and/or hyperseborrhoea.